System and process for having wireless service value included in a SIM card

ABSTRACT

A method and system a system for activating a wireless service includes a subscriber identity module (SIM) card having a first surface, the SIM card including a subscriber identity module (SIM), and an activation code stored with the SIM card. The activation code is linked to the SIM. A wireless device configured to receive the SIM, where the SIM is configured to be utilized in the wireless device, the wireless device including: a memory that stores an operating system of the wireless device and a wireless service activation application, a processor that processes a function of the wireless device, a display that displays information to a user, the wireless service activation application is configured to capture the activation code that authorizes the wireless device on a wireless network and authorizes a predetermined amount of wireless service for the wireless device associated with said SIM.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of the U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/089,919, filed Apr. 4, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,883,374 issuedJan. 30, 2018. This application further claims the benefit from U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/150,614 filed on Apr. 21, 2015. Bothapplications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as iffully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to a system for activating wireless services onwireless devices. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a SIM(subscriber identity module or subscriber identification module) cardhaving built in wireless service value, a wireless service code and/or awireless activation code.

2. Related Art

A large number of cellular wireless service plans exist for customersdesiring wireless cellular services such as data, talk, and textmessaging. Customers generally have the option of entering into apost-paid service, e.g., contract for a period of time, or a pre-paid,contract-free service. A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is amobile operator that typically does not own its own frequency spectrumor have its own wireless network infrastructure. MVNOs negotiate andenter into business agreements with third party wireless carriers topurchase the right to use their networks for wireless services includingvolume of data and number of minutes/text messages used.

MVNOs often implement activation cards, also known as airtime cards, forthe sale and activation and/or addition of a wireless service, e.g. talkairtime, data, or text messaging. Activation cards generally include aunique code that may include a scratch off cover obscuring the uniquecode consisting of a long series of letters and numbers. Codes arecorrelated to a wireless service and are stored in a MVNO's databaseprior to distributing the activation card to a respective point-of-saleand reaching the customer. Once a card is sold to a user, the user mustmanually scratch off the covering of the code and manually enter thecode into the phone or in a computer linked to the MVNO's database toactivate the wireless service.

In order to increase the customer base, MVNOs may provide a SIM card tobe activated using an airtime card that is bundled with the SIM card.However, often times, the customer will discard the SIM card and simplyuse the airtime card to add more time to an existing SIM card.Additionally, a SIM card to be activated using an airtime card that isbundled with the SIM card may require the user to execute multiple stepsto authorize wireless service which may be confusing or deter the userfrom adopting a wireless plan. Accordingly, there is a need for new andimproved devices, processes, and systems that can be implemented for theactivation of a wireless service.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the disclosure,providing a system and associated methods for activating services andsubscriptions on wireless devices and/or systems implementing a SIM cardhaving wireless service by.

According to aspects of the disclosure, a system for activating awireless service includes a subscriber identity module (SIM) card havinga first surface, the SIM card including a subscriber identity module(SIM), and an activation code stored with the SIM card, the activationcode is linked to said SIM, a wireless device configured to receive theSIM, where the SIM is configured to be utilized in the wireless device,the wireless device including: a memory that stores an operating systemof the wireless device and a wireless service activation application, aprocessor that processes a function of the wireless device, a displaythat displays information to a user, where the display includes a touchscreen, and the processor implements the wireless service activationapplication, the wireless service activation application is configuredto capture the activation code that authorizes the wireless device on awireless network and authorizes a predetermined amount of wirelessservice for the wireless device associated with said SIM.

According to some additional aspects, a device for activating a wirelessservice includes a subscriber identity module (SIM) card having a firstsurface, the SIM card including a subscriber identity module (SIM), andan activation code stored with the SIM card, the activation code islinked to said SIM, where the SIM is configured to be utilized in awireless device configured to receive the SIM, the wireless deviceincluding a memory that stores an operating system of the wirelessdevice and a wireless service activation application, a processor thatprocesses a function of the wireless device, a display that displaysinformation to a user, where the display includes a touch screen, andthe processor implements the wireless service activation application,the wireless service activation application is configured to capture theactivation code that authorizes the wireless device on a wirelessnetwork and authorizes a predetermined amount of wireless service forthe wireless device associated with said SIM.

According to some additional aspects, a process for authorizing wirelessservice includes providing a generally rectangular flat form factor cardhaving a first surface and opposing second surface, providing at leastone removable subscriber identity module (SIM) arranged in the generallyrectangular flat form factor card defined by the first surface, wherethe at least one removable subscriber identity module (SIM) isreleasably attached to the first surface of the generally rectangularflat form factor card by respective breaking tabs, and providing anactivation code stored at least in one of the following: the removablesubscriber identity module (SIM) and the generally rectangular flat formfactor card, where the activation code is configured to authorizewireless service associated with the at least one removable subscriberidentity module (SIM) when provided to a system associated with awireless service provider, and provisioning the wireless service to awireless device from a wireless network when the wireless deviceoperates in conjunction with the at least one removable subscriberidentity module (SIM) and the activation code is provided to the systemassociated with the wireless network.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain aspects of thedisclosure in order that the detailed description thereof herein may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects ofthe disclosure that will be described below and which will also form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one aspects of thedisclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of aspects inaddition to those described and of being practiced and carried out invarious ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the disclosure. It is important, therefore,that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructionsinsofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned features and aspects of the disclosure will becomemore apparent with reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of exemplary components of a wirelessdevice in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary wireless device with a display of ahome screen on a graphical user interface and FIG. 2B illustrates asubsequent screen showing a wireless service activation application on agraphical user interface, both of which may be used for the selectionand control of the activation of a wireless service in accordance withan aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 3A illustrates a SIM card used for activation of a wirelessservice.

FIG. 3B illustrates a SIM card with a near field communication tag thatcan be used according to aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary wireless serviceactivation system in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary method steps which may be used to implementthe system of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this specification and claims it is to be understood that referenceto a “wireless device” is intended to encompass any compatible computingdevice that can connect to a wireless communication network, such asmobile phones, personal computers, PDAs, tablet computers, gamingsystems, MP3 players, mobile equipment, mobile stations, cellularphones, smartphones, handsets, (e.g., Apple iPhone, Google Android,Microsoft Windows or Blackberry based devices, other types of PDAs orsmartphones), wireless dongles, or other mobile computing devices andthe like. The term “wireless device” may be interchangeably used andreferred to herein as “wireless handset,” “handset,” “mobile device,”“device,” “mobile phones,” “mobile equipment,” “mobile station,” “userequipment,” “cellular phone,” “smartphones,” or “phone.”

A “point-of-sale” as used herein can refer to a location where one ormore wireless devices and/or services can be sold and/or activated whichmay or may not require sales personnel. A point-of-sale can include, forexample, a vending machine, an automated kiosk, a retailer store, akiosk in a mall, a gas station, a convenient store, a web site, andsuch.

Wireless devices may connect to a “wireless network” or “network” andare intended to encompass any type of wireless network to obtain orprovide mobile phone services through the use of a wireless device, suchas the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network,Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, Long-Term Evolution (LTE)network, 5G (fifth generation) network, and/or a communication channelas defined herein, that may utilize the teachings of the presentapplication to sell, activate, monitor, redeem, and/or track, theactivation of one or more wireless services.

Reference in this specification to “one aspect,” “an aspect,” “otheraspects,” “one or more aspects” or the like means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theaspect is included in at least one aspect of the disclosure. Theappearances of, for example, the phrase “in one aspect” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame aspect, nor are separate or alternative aspects mutually exclusiveof other aspects. Moreover, various features are described which may beexhibited by some aspects and not by others. Similarly, variousrequirements are described which may be requirements for some aspectsbut not for other aspects.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram with exemplary components of awireless device 100 in accordance with aspects of the disclosure isshown. In particular, the exemplary components which include a nearfield communication interface 134, e.g., reader or scanner, which may beused in conjunction with one or more near field communication tag(s)(shown in FIG. 3B) during the distribution, verification, and/orsale/purchase, of a wireless service. Other uses of the near fieldcommunication interface 134 for the activation of a wireless service caninclude, but are not limited to, a change of phone settings, anactivation message (e.g. text message) to be created and sent andultimately received back, starting of an application (e.g. paymentapplication), and the like.

In addition, the wireless device 100 can include a power supply 128 inthe form of a battery and a camera 138 that is multifunctional. Thecamera may be used to capture images such as of a person or place,biometric readings such as a fingerprint or a retina, letter, symbols,and numbers (optical character reading), image of a bar code such as QRcode, and the like. The camera 138 may be on the front, back, sides andthe like of the wireless device 100.

The near field communication interface 134 and the camera 138 can be incommunication with a processor 102, memory 104, and a user interface120. The processor 102 may be a central processing unit configured toexecute instructions such as instructions related to software programs.Any processor such as a FPGA, an ASIC, a microprocessor, a controller,and the like can be used for the wireless device 100 as understood tothose of ordinary skill in the art. The display 118 may be a liquidcrystal display (LCD), LED (light emitting diodes), OLED, and the like.Preferably the LCD includes a backlight to illuminate the various colorliquid crystals to provide a more colorful display. The user interface120 may be any type of physical input as readily employed in the field.For example, the user interface 120 may have physical buttons havingalphanumeric labels thereon that can be used to enter a sequence ofnumbers, letters, symbols, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, theuser interface 120 may be implemented on a touchscreen 122, a motionsensor (not shown), and the like.

The memory 104 of the wireless device 100 may further include anoperating system 106 (Windows, Apple IOS, Google Droid, etc.), acommunication component 108, a contact/motion component 110, a graphicscomponent 112, a wireless service activation application 114, a database116, and the like. The operating system 106 together with the variouscomponents provides software functionality for each of the components ofthe wireless device 100. The memory 104 may include a high-speed,random-access memory. Also, the memory 104 may be a non-volatile memory,such as magnetic fixed disk storage, SIM, UICC, cloud-based memory,flash memory or the like. These various components may be connectedthrough various communication lines including a data bus 136.

The wireless device 100 can include an audio input/output device 126.The audio input/output device 126 may include speakers, speaker outputs,and the like, providing sound output; and may include microphones,microphone inputs, and the like, for receiving sound inputs. In anexemplary aspect, the audio input/output device 126 may include ananalog to digital converter and a digital to audio converter for audioinput and output functions, respectively.

In another aspect, the wireless device 100 may include a transceiver 132that provides radio and signal processing as needed to access a wirelessnetwork for services. The processor 102 may be configured to processcall functions, data transfer, and the like and provide an array ofservices, based on those functions, to the user.

In an exemplary aspect, the touchscreen 122 of the disclosure may beimplemented in the display 118 (entire or a portion thereof) or separatefrom the display, and may detect a presence and location of a touch offinger or hand of a user within the display area. The touchscreen 122may also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus and/or, in someaspects, for example, the touchscreen 122 may serve as the near fieldcommunication interface 134 when the near field communication tag(s)include a conductive component. The touchscreen 122 may be controlled bya touchscreen controller 130.

In one operation, the display 118 may show various objects 124associated with applications for execution by the processor 102. Forexample, a user may touch the display 118, particularly the touchscreen122, to interact with the objects 124. That is, touching an object 124may execute an application stored in the memory 104 by the processor 102and associated with the object 124. Additionally or alternatively,touching an object 124 may open a menu of options to be selected by theuser. The display 118 may include one or a plurality of objects 124 forthe user to interact with. Moreover, the display 118 may include aplurality of screens and show one or more screens at a time. The usermay interact with the display 118 to move a screen into view on thedisplay 118. Various objects 124 may be located in each of the screens.

The touchscreen 122 may be implemented as a resistive touchscreen, asurface acoustic wave touch screen, a capacitive touchscreen,self-capacitance sensors, infrared sensors, dispersive signaltechnology, acoustic pulse recognition, or the like. As previouslymentioned, the touchscreen 122 can function as the near fieldcommunication interface 134 when conductive near field communicationtags are implemented according to aspects of the present disclosure.

The display 118 is generally configured to display a graphical userinterface (GUI) 120 that provides an easy to use visual interfacebetween a user of the wireless device 100 and the operating system 106or application(s) running on the wireless device 100. Generally, the GUIpresents programs, files and operational options with graphical images.During operation, the user may select and activate various graphicalimages displayed on the display 118 in order to initiate functions andtasks associated therewith.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the memory 104 of a wireless device100 can include the database 116 for storing user information andactivation codes (valid and not used, currently used, previously used)or information. The user information may include full name, address,email address, contact number, credit card information, and the like. Inone aspect, the database 116 may include security questions. In anotheraspect, the database 116 may include user specified preferences.

In yet another aspect of the application, the memory 104 of a wirelessdevice 100 can include a wireless service activation application 114.The application 114 may be preinstalled or downloaded from anapplication store (Android Store, Blackberry Store, Windows Store orApple iTunes and the like). In another aspect, the application 114 canbe installed in a memory a SIM 301, 351 of a SIM card 300, 350 (FIGS. 3Aand 3B) and is installed manually or automatically when the SIM 301, 351of the SIM card 300, 350 is inserted into the wireless device 100. Uponinstallation, the air time activation code can also be retrieved as itcan be embedded or stored in the memory of the SIM 301, 351 of the SIMcard 300, 350 along with the application 114. The wireless serviceactivation application 114 may be configured to control use of thewireless device 100 based on interaction with a wireless providerbackend system 422 (shown in FIG. 4) and/or one or more near fieldcommunication tag(s) (shown in FIG. 3B) and/or an activation code, suchas a bar code or an alpha numeric code, for the activation of a wirelessservice. The wireless service activation application 114 may utilize aninternal accounting module to establish an account with a representationof prepaid funds or available credit for wireless services. In someaspects, the internal accounting module of the wireless serviceactivation application 114 may also be used to store and/or transmit aplurality of charge rates as well as a billing/payment algorithm. Theinternal accounting module can classify each wireless service (data,voice, SMS) into one of a plurality of billing categories; receive datacorrelated to the near field communication tag(s) identifier oractivation code (entered or captured by the camera, for example), selecta charge rate corresponding to that billing category; calculate anappropriate charge for the data usage, voice usage, and SMS usage inreal time by using the selected charge rate; and apply this appropriatecharge to the account. For example, upon the retrieval and/orverification of a unique identifier of a near field communication tag bythe near field communication interface 134 or an activation codecaptured by the camera 138, entered via the user interface 120, orautomatically retrieved from the SIM 301, 351 of the SIM card 300, 350,the one or more steps may automatically take place to apply anappropriate charge or credit to the account.

In some aspects, once the internal accounting module determines that theamount of wireless service (data, voice, SMS) used has depleted theaccount to zero or a predetermined amount, the processor 102 mayinteract with the internal accounting module and/or the wirelessprovider backend system 422 to limit, prevent, alert the user, and/orcontrol further use of the wireless device 100 as further describedherein. The controlled use can include suspending voice calls, allowinglimited voice calls, allowing all voice calls, suspending text messages,allowing limited text messages, allowing all text messages, suspendingwireless data service, limiting wireless data service, throttlingwireless data service, and allowing all wireless data service. In thisaspect, the wireless service activation application 114 may also includea module for one or more system provider host processors, which storewireless device identification information; store operating codes neededfor wireless device activation; and store operating codes needed forsetting prepaid funds or available credit amounts in wireless deviceaccounts whereby, upon receipt of wireless device identificationinformation from a near field communication tag or an activation code,the host processor may be capable of ascertaining the operating codesneeded to activate that particular wireless device or needed to set itsaccount amount.

The internal accounting module may also be implemented partially in thewireless device 100 and in a wireless network as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 8,805,323, entitled Hybrid network based metering server andtracking client for wireless services, issued Aug. 12, 2014, andincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Moreover, the internalaccounting module may be located entirely in the wireless network andprovide functionality consistent as noted above.

FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary wireless device 100 with a display of ahome screen 200 and FIG. 2B a subsequent screen 250 of a wirelessservice activation application 114 with a graphical user interface on adisplay 118, both which may be used for the selection and control of theactivation of a wireless service in accordance with an aspect of thedisclosure. The home screen 200 may include a plurality of objects 124in the form of icons, and is not limited to a calling icon, textingicon, internet icon, and the like, allowing a user to perform one ormore functions on the wireless device 100. For example, the home screen200 may also display the icons 124 for one or more applications thathave been downloaded from the Internet or pre-installed, andunlocked/retrieved using one or more near field communication tag(s) oran activation code. In some aspects, an application such as GoogleWallet™, Google Play™, Android Market™, Apple Store™, or the like, mayalso function with the one or more near field communication tag(s) oractivation code to process or credit a payment or redeem a credit(contest give away), add or redeem gift card value, add or redeemcoupons or other data during the activation of one or more selectedwireless service.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the wireless service activation application 114 mayprovide numerous ways in which to receive an activation code. At input202, a user may indicate that they want to manually enter the activationcode. At input 204, a user may indicate that they want to retrieve theactivation code from the SIM. At input 206, a user may indicate thatthey want to capture the activation code with the camera. At input 208,a user may indicate that they want to capture the activation code withthe near field communication interface 134.

Some of the payment and/or authentication applications may be stored ina robust manner that prevents a user from deleting, modifying,tampering, and the like, with the application's functionality. In thisregard, the wireless service activation application 114, for example,can provide data management information, as depicted in subsequentscreen 250, but may not allow or limit user's input for the activationand/or control of the wireless services. Further, in some aspects theprovision of the options depicted in the subsequent screen 250 to theuser may only be made available during activation of a wireless serviceand verification of a unique identifier of a near field communicationtag or the activation code.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, the SIM card 300 used for authentication ofwireless device 100 on a wireless service is depicted. As customersoften own their wireless device 100, they may need the SIM card 300 inorder to authenticate the wireless device 100 on a particular wirelessservice provider (mobile network operator (MNO) such as Verizon, AT&T,Sprint, T-Mobile, etc. or a MVNO). The SIM card 300 may be soldindividually or in a multipack and may be available at variouslocations.

The SIM card 300 may be a generally rectangular flat form factor cardhaving a first surface and opposing second surface. The SIM card 300 mayinclude at least one removable subscriber identity module (SIM) 301arranged in the generally rectangular flat form factor card defined bythe first surface. The SIM 301 may be releasably attached to the firstsurface of the generally rectangular flat form factor of the SIM card300 by respective breaking tabs.

In an aspect of the disclosure, the SIM card 300 may include theactivation code 305 in the form of a series of number as shown or aseries of numbers, letters, symbols or a combination thereof. Theactivation code 305 may be included on a SIM card 300 or the activationcode 305 may be included in a memory of the SIM 301 initially held bythe SIM card 300. The activation code 305 may be included on the SIMcard 300. In order to entice new customers to activate a wireless device100, the SIM card 300 may be part of a contest, a give-away, adiscounted purchase, or a purchase. The activation code 305 may belocated under a scratch-off panel and can be manually entered into thewireless device 100 using the user interface 120, automaticallyretrieved from the memory of the SIM 301, automatically retrieved as itwas part of the application 114 or captured as an image with the camera138. The activation code 305 can be pre-paid amount of wireless serviceor includes a predetermined amount of wireless credit (as part ofwinning a contest) for one of more wireless services. The activationcode 305 can be unique to one SIM card or can be shared by SIMS inmultiple packs. By sharing, this allows additional SIM card activationsand thus, new customers for the MVNOs.

In another aspect, a bar code 315 may be used as an alternative or inaddition to the activation code 305. The bar code 315 can include thesame series of numbers, letters, symbols or a combination thereof thatare similar to the activation code 305. The bar code 315 can be scannedusing the camera 138, alternatively a bar code reader (not shown) thatcan be attached to the wireless device 100, or the like. Both theactivation code 305 and the bar code 315 have previously been recordedand correlated to a predetermined amount of credit for a particularwireless service/wireless services, in a backend system's database.Further, both the activation code 305 and the bar code 315 can includecredit for all services such as talk, text and data or can be limited toone or any combination thereof as desired.

Further, the SIM card 300 may include an advertisement portion 310 thatshows the wireless service provider and the specific amount of dataand/or time being provided. In addition or alternatively, other types ofadvertisement, such as third party logos may be included in theadvertisement portion 310.

Referring now to FIG. 3B, a SIM card 350 having a near fieldcommunication tag 360 according to aspects of the present disclosure isillustrated. In some aspects, more than one near field communication tag360 can be included in the SIM card 350. The SIM card 350 may include aSIM 351. The near field communication tag 360 may have either read onlydata capability or may have rewriteable data capability. As such,configurability, memory, security, data retention and write endurance,may all vary according to the activation application. The variations ofthe near field communication tags included and the number of tags whichcan be utilized to streamline the wireless service activation process,provide a more secure sale and activation process, provide for less datastorage in backend databases, post distribution programmability of theairtime cards, and eliminate point-of-sale requirements.

The SIM card 350 may be a generally rectangular flat form factor cardhaving a first surface and opposing second surface. The SIM card 350 mayinclude at least one removable subscriber identity module (SIM) 351arranged in the generally rectangular flat form factor card defined bythe first surface. The SIM 351 may be releasably attached to the firstsurface of the generally rectangular flat form factor of the SIM card350 by respective breaking tabs.

According to some aspects of the disclosure, a near field communicationequipped wireless device 100, e.g. smart phone, can be paired with thenear field communication tag 360 to automate a task including, forexample, a change in phone settings, a text to be created and sent, anapplication to be launched, or any number of commands to be executed,for the purchase/sale, payment, activation of a wireless service, and/ormonitoring of wireless services sold/authorized. These automated tasksmay also be performed based on the activation code 305 or bar code 315.

The SIM card 350 may also include a generic label 355 that can advertisesimilar or different information as advertisement portion 310. This maybe achieved when using a reprogrammable near field communication tag 360which can be programmed at a store or a kiosk, for example. Further, bysimply bringing the near field communication enabled wireless device toa distance of 10 cm or less, the activation and/or purchase of wirelessservices can be automated and streamlined. For example, quickerverification of codes can result since the system is more secure and theneed of storing all unique codes and correlated services on a backendsystem's database prior to distribution is eliminated.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a schematic diagram of an exemplary wirelessservice activation system according to aspects of the disclosure isdepicted. In particular, the wireless service activation system 400 canbe used to activate wireless network service(s) on a wireless device 100implementing various aspects of the SIM card activation using thedisclosed code and/or near field communication systems. Unlikeconventional activation processes for wireless devices that can requirea user 412 to contact a live customer service representative, utilize aninteractive voice response system from a landline or another wirelessdevice, manually input the code, or access an Internet website by theuser 412 to use a website activation system, the present wirelessservice activation system 400 can be used to activate a wireless device414, such as the wireless device 100, and/or activate services withautomated code/information gathering and without requiring access to anagent, a website, or the like.

According to aspects of the disclosure, the activated service(s) mayinclude, for example, activation of a wireless service after or duringthe initial activation of the wireless device 100 by a user 412. Theinitial activation of the wireless device 414, such as the wirelessdevice 100, may be described herein as “out of the box” activation andmay take place at the point-of-sale 420, which may have a contest giveaway. Alternatively, the contest give away may be independent of thepoint-of-sale 420, such as via mail, or at special events (concerts,contest sites, parties, and the like). In some additional aspects, theservices requested to be activated and authorized are one orcombinations of: airtime, text messaging, and data plans, but may alsoinclude at least one of device upgrades, device reactivations, wirelessnumber changes, and wireless number porting for wireless devices thathave previously been activated.

According to some aspects of the disclosure, the point-of-sale 420 caninclude, for example, a store retailer, a vending machine, a kiosk, andthe like. The contest give away can provide winning contestants with theSIM card 300 or SIM card 350 depending on the desired activation. In anaspect of the disclosure, the SIM card 300 and SIM card 350 may bothinclude the activation code 305 and the near field communication tag360. When the contestant or user is ready to activate the SIM card 300,he can simply enter the activation code 305 into the wireless device 100using the user interface 120. Alternatively, the activation code 305stored in the memory of the SIM 301 may be retrieved by the wirelessdevice 100. Alternatively, the user can take a picture of the activationcode 305 or scan the bar code 315 using the camera 138. Then the userinserts the SIM card 300 into the wireless device 100. Then through theuser interface 120 or touchscreen 122, the user 412 can activate thewireless device 100 using the wireless service activation application114. The SIM card 300 can be configured to solely communicate with awireless network provider using limited data communication even thoughthe SIM card 300 has not been permanently authenticated. In one aspect,the wireless service activation application 114 communicates with thewireless provider backend system 422 through a cell tower 416. Then thewireless provider backend system 422 authenticates (permanently) the SIMcard 300 and authorizes the predetermined number of talk time, text, ordata or a combination thereof based on the activation code 305 or thecode stored on bar code 315.

Alternatively, the wireless provider backend system 422 may also includean interface with other authentication or payment services such asGoogle Wallet™, Google Play™, Android Market™, Apple Store™, or thelike. Additionally, the wireless service activation application 114 cansimply request the user to enter his ZIP Code or use the built in globalnavigation system (GNSS) in the wireless device 100 in order toauthorize and activate the SIM card 300, 350 based on location orbilling area.

It should be noted, that regardless of the method of authentication andauthorization by activation code 305, the bar code 315 and/or the nearfield communication tag 360, the contestant can't simply use theactivation code to add additional services (talk time, text, and/ordata) to a different SIM card other than to the SIM card that theactivation code is linked to. Additionally, the amount or type ofservices preauthorized by the activation code may be valid on a singleSIM card or multiple SIM cards. In another aspect, the wireless serviceactivation application 114 can simply access the database 116 stored onthe wireless device 100 in order to authenticate and authorize the SIM301, 351 of the SIM card 300 or SIM card 350. The database 116 can bepreviously stored on the wireless device 100 and can be supplemented viaaccess to the wireless provider backend system 422 or simply downloadedat the time of activation.

The point-of-sale 420 may also include a near field communication system425 that can be used for payment and/or executing security andactivation protocols using one or more near field communication tag(s)360. Further, the near field communication system 425 at thepoint-of-sale 420 can be configured to communicate with the near fieldcommunication tag 360 and in some aspects the wireless device 100, whichmay also be configured to be in communication with the wireless providerbackend system 422. In one aspect, the wireless provider backend system422 may be implemented as a server. Communication with the wirelessdevice 100 may include, for example, one or more of: communication usingthe wireless device's near field communication interface 134, a wireconnector, a data messaging channel, such as an UnstructuredSupplementary Service Data (USSD) channel, a Short Message Service (SMS)messaging channel or a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) messagingchannel, a personal area network (PAN), such as a Bluetooth™communication, an induction wireless communication, an infrared wirelesscommunication, an ultra-wideband communication, a ZigBee™ communication,a wireless fidelity communication channel, a local area network (LAN),and/or a communication channel as defined herein.

Communication between the near field communication system 425 of thepoint-of-sale 420 and the wireless device 100 may be used to transmit apayment or redeem a credit for a wireless service and/or automaticallyretrieve and/or generate wireless device-related information based on auser's input selection. According to some aspects of the presentdisclosure, the wireless service selection can be made by scanning anear field communication tag 360 of the SIM card 350 using the nearfield communication interface 134 of the wireless device 100, and caninclude a wireless provider selection, and/or a wireless service typeand amount to be activated. In some aspects, the near fieldcommunication tag 360 can further be scanned by the near fieldcommunication system 425 at the point-of-sale 420, for example, forverification, authorization, and/or security encryption.

The wireless service selection, near field communication tag 360 uniqueidentifier, and wireless device 100 related information may betransferred to a wireless provider backend system 422. The wirelessdevice-related information can include, for example, the InternationalMobile Station Equipment Identify (“IMEI”), an Electronic Serial Number(ESN), Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID), and/or a serial number for asubscriber identity module (SIM) card installed in the wireless device100. The SIM card 300, 350 may include a SIM card memory for storing atleast a SIM card serial number, for example, an Integrated Circuit CardID (ICCID). A wireless device 100 not utilizing a SIM card iscontemplated as well for use with the disclosure.

In some aspects, the information transferred may be in the form of anactivation message that corresponds and/or includes the wirelessprovider and/or wireless service selection by the user 412 andautomatically retrieved wireless device related information, the nearfield communication tag 360 unique identifier, and/orpayment/authorization verification from the point-of-sale 420. Theactivation message including the automatically retrieved information canbe generated by a processor including, for example, the processor of thewireless device 100 and/or a processor at the point-of-sale 420. In someaspects, the activation message may be transmitted over a provisioningchannel provided over a cell tower 416 that is available to inactive orunprovisioned wireless devices or via any type of conventionalactivation protocols known in the art. Alternatively, the activationmessage can be transmitted from the point-of-sale 420 via any wired orother wireless communication type to the wireless provider backendsystem 422. The wireless provider backend system 422 can include one ormore databases wherein authorized unique identifiers of a near fieldcommunication tag 360 may be correlated/recorded when a wireless serviceis redeemed and/or purchased.

Referring now to FIG. 5, exemplary method steps, which may be used toimplement systems of the disclosure, are depicted in a flowchart 500. Inparticular, the method steps include ways in which a user can provide anactivation code located on the SIM card 300, 350 to activate one or morewireless service(s) on the wireless device 100. At step 502, the userprovides an activation code 305 in the form of a code (letters, numbers,symbols or combination thereof) that was captured by the camera 138,manually entered using the user interface 120, a bar code 315 capturedby the camera 138, a near field communication tag 360 using the nearfield communication interface 134, or stored electronically in the SIM301. The activation code may include a programmed identifier that cancorrespond to a wireless provider selection and one or more wirelessservice to be activated. For example, the identifier may include a firstcode corresponding to a wireless provider, followed by a second codecorresponding to a wireless service type, and followed by a third codecorresponding to an amount that is being redeemed. It is contemplatedthat additional codes may be included for additional services andamounts, security codes, as well as for production data for statisticalanalysis performed by the wireless provider, as it may be desired. Eachof the codes may be a series of digits including letters, symbols,and/or numbers.

At step 504, activation code 305 can be received by the wireless device100, or the near field communication interface 134 and/or the near fieldcommunication system 425 at the point-of-sale 420. If received by thewireless device 100 and/or the near field communication interface 134,then the wireless device can transmit the activation code to the celltower 416, which then relays the code to the wireless provider backendsystem 422 for authentication. If the activation code is received bynear field communication system 425 at the point-of-sale 420, then theactivation code is sent to the wireless provider backend system 422 forauthentication.

At step 508, the activation code 305, the bar code 315, or the nearfield communication tag 360 codes along with wireless device 100information are received by the wireless provider backend system 422where it can verify the authentication code by searching one or moredatabases. Alternatively, the database can be preloaded with informationrelating to the wireless device 100 and the activation code 305 isauthenticated by the wireless device 100 through the wireless serviceactivation application. In one aspect, prior to sending the activationcode 305, the bar code 315 or the near field communication tag 360 tothe wireless provider backend system 422, a text message containingtemporary log in information may be sent to the wireless device for useby the wireless service activation application to log into the wirelessprovider backend system 422. At step 510, if the activation code is notvalid, the activation of the wireless service will be stopped at step512. Upon stopping the activation 512 of the wireless service, thewireless provider backend system 422 may send a warning message to theuser 412 (e.g., using the wireless device 100) and/or the wirelessprovider and proceed back to step 502 and wait for the validauthentication code to be provided. At step 514, if the activation codeis valid (authentic, not been previously used, or the like),authorization of a wireless service may take place at step 516. At step518, the use of the activated wireless service may be monitored todetermine when the activated wireless service has been depleted by theuser 412. At step 520 the process ends.

Aspects of the disclosure may include communication channels that may beany type of wired or wireless electronic communications network, suchas, e.g., a wired/wireless local area network (LAN), a wired/wirelesspersonal area network (PAN), a wired/wireless home area network (HAN), awired/wireless wide area network (WAN), a campus network, a metropolitannetwork, an enterprise private network, a virtual private network (VPN),an internetwork, a backbone network (BBN), a global area network (GAN),the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, an overlay network, Near fieldcommunication (NFC), a cellular telephone network, a PersonalCommunications Service (PCS), using known protocols such as the GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM), CDMA (Code-Division MultipleAccess), GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies, Long TermEvolution (LTE), 5G (5th generation mobile networks or 5th generationwireless systems), WiMAX, HSPA+, W-CDMA (Wideband Code-Division MultipleAccess), CDMA2000 (also known as C2K or IMT Multi-Carrier (IMT-MC)),Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, and/or the like, and/or acombination of two or more thereof. The NFC standards covercommunications protocols and data exchange formats, and are based onexisting radio-frequency identification (RFID) standards includingISO/IEC 14443 and FeliCa. The standards include ISO/IEC 18092[3] andthose defined by the NFC Forum.

Aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in any type of computingdevices, such as, e.g., a desktop computer, personal computer, alaptop/mobile computer, a personal data assistant (PDA), a mobile phone,a tablet computer, cloud computing device, and the like, withwired/wireless communications capabilities via the communicationchannels.

Aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in any type of mobilesmartphones that are operated by any type of advanced mobile dataprocessing and communication operating system, such as, e.g., an Apple™iOS™ operating system, a Google™ Android™ operating system, a RIM™Blackberry™ operating system, a Nokia™ Symbian™ operating system, aMicrosoft™ Windows Mobile™ operating system, a Microsoft™ Windows Phone™operating system, a Linux™ operating system or the like.

Further in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation with dedicatedhardware implementations including, but not limited to, PCs, PDAs,semiconductors, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC),programmable logic arrays, cloud computing devices, and other hardwaredevices constructed to implement the methods described herein.

It should also be noted that the software implementations of thedisclosure as described herein are optionally stored on a tangiblestorage medium, such as: a magnetic medium such as a disk or tape; amagneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk; or a solid statemedium such as a memory card or other package that houses one or moreread-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or otherre-writable (volatile) memories. A digital file attachment to email orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include a tangiblestorage medium or distribution medium, as listed herein and includingart-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the softwareimplementations herein are stored.

Additionally, the various aspects of the disclosure may be implementedin a non-generic computer implementation. Moreover, the various aspectsof the disclosure set forth herein improve the functioning of the systemas is apparent from the disclosure hereof. Furthermore, the variousaspects of the disclosure involve computer hardware that it specificallyprogrammed to solve the complex problem addressed by the disclosure.Accordingly, the various aspects of the disclosure improve thefunctioning of the system overall in its specific implementation toperform the process set forth by the disclosure and as defined by theclaims.

According to an example, the global navigation satellite system (GNSS)may include a device and/or system that may estimate its location based,at least in part, on signals received from space vehicles (SVs). Inparticular, such a device and/or system may obtain “pseudorange”measurements including approximations of distances between associatedSVs and a navigation satellite receiver. In a particular example, such apseudorange may be determined at a receiver that is capable ofprocessing signals from one or more SVs as part of a SatellitePositioning System (SPS). Such an SPS may comprise, for example, aGlobal Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, Glonass, to name a few, or anySPS developed in the future. To determine its location, a satellitenavigation receiver may obtain pseudorange measurements to three or moresatellites as well as their positions at time of transmitting. Knowingthe SV orbital parameters, these positions can be calculated for anypoint in time. A pseudorange measurement may then be determined based,at least in part, on the time a signal travels from an SV to thereceiver, multiplied by the speed of light. While techniques describedherein may be provided as implementations of location determination inGPS and/or Galileo types of SPS as specific illustrations according toparticular examples, it should be understood that these techniques mayalso apply to other types of SPS, and that claimed subject matter is notlimited in this respect.

Aspects of the disclosure may include a server executing an instance ofan application or software configured to accept requests from a clientand giving responses accordingly. The server may run on any computerincluding dedicated computers. The computer may include at least oneprocessing element, typically a central processing unit (CPU), and someform of memory. The processing element may carry out arithmetic andlogic operations, and a sequencing and control unit may change the orderof operations in response to stored information. The server may includeperipheral devices that may allow information to be retrieved from anexternal source, and the result of operations saved and retrieved. Theserver may operate within a client-server architecture. The server mayperform some tasks on behalf of clients. The clients may connect to theserver through the network on a communication channel as defined herein.The server may use memory with error detection and correction, redundantdisks, redundant power supplies and so on.

The SIM 301 and SIM 351 may be an integrated circuit chip that isintended to securely store the international mobile subscriber identity(IMSI) number and its related key, which are used to identify andauthenticate subscribers on mobile telephony devices (such as mobilephones and computers). The SIM 301 and SIM 351 may include a SIM circuitthat may be part of the function of a Universal Integrated Circuit Card(UICC) physical smart card, which may be made of PVC with embeddedcontacts and semiconductors. The SIM 301 and SIM 351 may contain aunique serial number (ICCID), international mobile subscriber identity(IMSI) number, security authentication and ciphering information,temporary information related to the local network, a list of theservices the user has access to, and the like. The SIM 301 and SIM 351may store network-specific information used to authenticate and identifysubscribers on the network. For example, the ICCID, IMSI, AuthenticationKey (Ki), Local Area Identity (LAI) and Operator-Specific EmergencyNumber. The SIM 301 and SIM 351 may store other carrier-specific datasuch as the SMSC (Short Message Service Center) number, Service ProviderName (SPN), Service Dialing Numbers (SDN), Advice-Of-Charge parametersand Value Added Service (VAS) applications.

The many features and advantages of the disclosure are apparent from thedetailed specification, and, thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the disclosure, which fallwithin the true spirit, and scope of the disclosure. Further, sincenumerous modifications and variations will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to theexact construction and operation illustrated and described, and,accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto that fall within the scope of the disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for activating a wireless service,the system comprising: a subscriber identity module (SIM) card having afirst surface; the SIM card comprising a subscriber identity module(SIM); and an activation code stored with the SIM card, the activationcode is linked to said SIM, the activation code authorizes on a wirelessnetwork a predetermined amount of wireless service, the SIM isconfigured to be utilized in a wireless device, the wireless devicecomprising: a memory that stores an operating system of the wirelessdevice and a wireless service activation application; a processor thatprocesses a function of the wireless device; a display that displaysinformation to a user, wherein the display includes a touch screen; theprocessor implements the wireless service activation application, thewireless service activation application is configured to capture theactivation code from the SIM card that authorizes the wireless device onthe wireless network and authorizes the predetermined amount of wirelessservice for the wireless device associated with said SIM; and atransceiver configured to transmit the activation code to a wirelessnetwork backend system to validate the activation code and provision thepredetermined amount of wireless service; the system further comprising:the wireless network backend system configured to validate theactivation code and provision the predetermined amount of wirelessservice; and an accounting unit configured to monitor the usage of thewireless service of the wireless device.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the wireless device further comprises a near field communicationreader in communication with the processor, and wherein the SIM cardalso includes a near field communication tag storing the activationcode.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the SIM card includes theactivation code on the first surface; and wherein the wireless devicefurther comprises a camera in communication with the processor, thecamera configured to capture the activation code on said SIM card thatauthorizes the wireless device on the wireless network and authorizesthe predetermined amount of wireless service.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the SIM electronically stores the activation code; and whereinthe wireless device further implements the wireless service activationapplication to retrieve the activation code stored in said SIM thatauthorizes the wireless device on the wireless network and authorizesthe predetermined amount of wireless service.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the SIM card includes the activation code on the first surface;and wherein the wireless device is further configured to implement thewireless service activation application to manually receive theactivation code from the user that authorizes the wireless device on thewireless network and authorizes the predetermined amount of wirelessservice.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the activation code is a barcode.
 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the activation code is an alphanumeric code.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the accounting unit isfurther configured to determine if wireless service has been depletedand thereafter configured to control a usage of the wireless service. 9.The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless network backend systemincludes a database that includes activation data that validates theactivation code and allows the wireless service activation applicationto authorize the predetermined amount of wireless service of thewireless device using said SIM.
 10. A device for activating a wirelessservice, the device comprising: a subscriber identity module (SIM) cardhaving a first surface; the SIM card comprising a subscriber identitymodule (SIM); and an activation code stored with the SIM card, theactivation code is linked to said SIM, the activation code authorizes ona wireless network a predetermined amount of wireless service, whereinthe SIM is configured to be utilized in a wireless device configured toreceive the SIM, the wireless device comprising: a processor thatprocesses a function of the wireless device; a display that displaysinformation to a user, wherein the display includes a touch screen; theprocessor is configured to capture the activation code from the SIM cardthat authorizes the wireless device on the wireless network andauthorizes the predetermined amount of wireless service for the wirelessdevice associated with said SIM; and a transceiver configured totransmit the activation code to a wireless network backend system tovalidate the activation code and provision the predetermined amount ofwireless service, the usage of the wireless service of the wirelessdevice being monitored by an accounting unit.
 11. The device of claim10, wherein the wireless device further comprises a near fieldcommunication reader in communication with the processor, and whereinthe SIM card also includes a near field communication tag storing theactivation code.
 12. The device of claim 10, wherein the SIM cardincludes the activation code on the first surface; and wherein thewireless device further comprises a camera in communication with theprocessor, the camera configured to capture the activation code on saidSIM card that authorizes the wireless device on the wireless network andauthorizes the predetermined amount of wireless service.
 13. The deviceof claim 10, wherein the SIM electronically stores the activation code;and wherein the wireless device further implements a wireless serviceactivation application to retrieve the activation code stored in saidSIM that authorizes the wireless device on the wireless network andauthorizes the predetermined amount of wireless service.
 14. The deviceof claim 10, wherein the SIM card includes the activation code on thefirst surface; and wherein the wireless device is further configured toimplement a wireless service activation application to manually receivethe activation code from the user that authorizes the wireless device onthe wireless network and authorizes the predetermined amount of wirelessservice.
 15. The device of claim 10, wherein the accounting unit isfurther configured to determine if wireless service has been depletedand thereafter configured to control a usage of the wireless service.16. A process for authorizing wireless service, the process comprising:providing a generally rectangular flat form factor card having a firstsurface and opposing second surface; providing a removable subscriberidentity module (SIM) arranged in the generally rectangular flat formfactor card defined by the first surface, wherein the removablesubscriber identity module (SIM) is releasably attached to the firstsurface of the generally rectangular flat form factor card; providing anactivation code stored at least in one of the following: the removablesubscriber identity module (SIM) and the generally rectangular flat formfactor card, wherein the activation code is configured to authorizewireless service associated with the removable subscriber identitymodule (SIM) when provided to a system associated with a wirelessservice provider; receiving the activation code in a wireless networkbackend system to validate the activation code and provision apredetermined amount of wireless service; provisioning the wirelessservice to a wireless device from a wireless network when the wirelessdevice operates in conjunction with the removable subscriber identitymodule (SIM) after the wireless network backend system validates theactivation code and the activation code is provided to the systemassociated with the wireless network; and monitoring the usage of thewireless service of the wireless device by an accounting unit.
 17. Theprocess of claim 16, further comprising providing the wireless devicewith a near field communication reader in communication with a processorof the wireless device, and wherein the removable subscriber identitymodule (SIM) also includes a near field communication tag storing theactivation code.
 18. The process of claim 16, wherein the generallyrectangular flat form factor card includes the activation code; andwherein the wireless device further comprises a camera in communicationwith a processor of the wireless device, the camera configured tocapture the activation code on the generally rectangular flat formfactor card that authorizes the wireless device on the wireless networkand authorizes the predetermined amount of wireless service.
 19. Theprocess of claim 16, wherein the SIM electronically stores theactivation code; and wherein the wireless device further implements awireless service activation application to retrieve the activation codestored in said SIM that authorizes the wireless device on the wirelessnetwork and authorizes the predetermined amount of wireless service. 20.The process of claim 16, wherein the removable subscriber identitymodule (SIM) includes the activation code on the first surface; andwherein the wireless device is further configured to implement awireless service activation application with a processor of the wirelessdevice, the processor configured to manually receive the activation codefrom a user that authorizes the wireless device on the wireless networkand authorizes the predetermined amount of wireless service.